Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Frommers is reporting that a "Trump Slump" in international travel is real. There is a large drop in tourism by international markets to the United States.

"The prestigious Travel Weekly magazine (as close to an
“official” travel publication as they come) has set the decline in
foreign tourism at 6.8%. And the fall-off is not limited to Muslim
travelers, but also extends to all incoming foreign tourists.
Apparently, an attack on one group of tourists is regarded as an assault
on all."

On the web, flight searches for trips heading to the U.S. out of all international locations was recently down by 17%.

Wonder if any of those Trump supporters will be affected? Something has to open their eyes.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says that Congress is so unpopular that lawmakers "couldn't beat herpes in the polls."

Republican Schwarzenegger blames the unpopularity on the practice of gerrymandering, where "politicians now pick their voters, instead of the voters picking their politicians." He says they "fixed it" by taking the redistricting process away from the state legislature in California, and gave the power back to the people.

He added, "We've proven that gerrymandering can be permanently terminated."

Singer MILCK and a 1300-voice choir gathered in Toronto to sing "Quiet," the song that became the anthem of the January Women's March.

The drop-in choir's directors, Nobu Adiman and Daveed Goldman, had already planned to sing the song at the choir's regular Tuesday and Wednesday night sessions at a tavern, but great interest gave them the idea to book the Phoenix Concert Theatre instead, where they sold more than 1,000 tickets with proceeds going to the American Civil Liberties Union. MILCK joined them.

Congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced a bill into Congress as the first legislation to deal with menstrual hygiene product
access, called the "Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2017."

Her bill would require each state to give female inmates and detainees as
many tampons or pads as they need, whenever they need them—at no cost.
"If Congress has to deny states certain federal funds to get their prisons to change their current horrendous practices, then so be it," Meng states.

"Homeless shelters should be able to use federal grant money to purchase tampons or pads," she also insists.

Meng's bill currently has 21 sponsors, but they are all Democrats. Are we surprised?

Monday, February 13, 2017

In the Central Valley of California, many bet their farms on Donald Trump's election, taking in his message of reducing regulations and taxes. As for his promises about cracking down on illegal immigrants, many assumed Mr. Trump’s pledges were mostly just talk.

Jeff Marchini said that as a businessman, Mr. Trump would know that farmers had
invested millions of dollars into produce that is growing right now, and
that not being able to pick and sell those crops would represent huge
losses for the state economy. “I’m confident that he can grasp the
magnitude and the anxiety of what’s happening now.”

It is too bad for the farmers that they did not think of this before they supported Trump.

"Last year Americans were less likely to be killed by Muslim terrorists than for being Muslim, according to Charles Kruzman of the University of North Carolina. The former is a risk of approximately one in six million; the latter, one in one million.

"The bottom line is that most years in the U.S., ladders kill far more Americans than Muslim terrorists do. Same with bathtubs. Ditto for stairs. And lightning.

And
husbands are so deadly in part because in America they have ready
access to firearms, even when they have a history of violence. In other
countries, brutish husbands put wives in hospitals; in America, they put
them in graves."

Monday, February 6, 2017

In hierarchies, the people at the bottom are programmed to send their resources to those at the top, and to follow the dictates of the top. Those on top come up with elaborate schemes to make sure they stay there.

In the last presidential election, many poorer and rural people voted Trump/Pence believing it would benefit them. A recent article discusses why they were fooled.

The article states that his most ardent supporters could be in for a surprise. "I think you're going to get a disproportionate impact on people who supported Donald Trump but maybe don't realize that his policies may end up hurting them instead of helping them," said Michael O. Moore, a professor of economics and international affairs at George Washington University.

The author of the article, Mary C. White, points out possible upcoming ramifications in the areas of income, sizes of cities and rural areas, and the fact that half of the Republicans have Obamacare.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Now is the time that it is so important to stand up to the people on top of our hierarchies in any way we can. Hold them accountable in our particular realm.

Wheaton College, a private liberal arts college in Norton, Mass. is waiving its $60 application fee, and a providing a full scholarship that will cover all the costs associated with attending to a student who is a refugee from one of the seven countries Trump has put on his banned list of coming to the United States.

“We call on our colleagues at institutions of higher education across the country to join us in making a clear statement about the importance of diversity and openness on our campuses,” said Wheaton president Dennis M. Hanno. “By providing scholarship support to refugees from these countries, we extend the hand of opportunity and friendship to those who need it most and offer a model to our nation for more constructive engagement with the world.”

Friday, February 3, 2017

Erica Chenoweth, co-author of Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict says that it might take only 3.5% of the population of the United States to be involved in nonviolent resistance to stop the brutal regime of Donald Trump and Mike Pence. She points to the successes of political movements of the past.

"In the US on Tuesday, dozens of lawmakers have said they will boycott confirmation votes for Trump nominees. Numerous police departments countrywide have announced that they will not comply with unethical federal policies (particularly regarding deportations). And the federal government employs more than 3 million civil servants – people on whose continued support the US government relies to implement its policies. Many such civil servants have already begun important conversations about how to dissent fromwithin the administration. They, too, provide an important check on power."

Thursday, February 2, 2017

There are plenty of ways to stand up to Trump, and retail giant Nordstrom is doing it their way.

They announced today they will no longer be carrying Ivanka Trump label for the new season, indicating it didn't sell well.

Either Nordstrom realizes that the Seattle-based company has customers who would object to a Trump label, or the Ivanka Trump label is not selling like it used to since her father has attacked everyone who is other than white, male, able-bodied, heterosexual, and Christian.

"We've said all along we make buying decisions based on performance.
We’ve got thousands of brands – more than 2,000 offered on the site
alone. Reviewing their merit and making edits is part of the regular
rhythm of our business," the statement says.